Injured Cyclist Sends Message

AUG 18, 2009: ROCK HILL, SC -- Sunday night, a Rock Hill cyclist was hit and left on the side of the road. The driver of the vehicle has still not come forward, but the victim is talking and showing his injuries only to CN2's Dianne Gallagher. Tonight he has with a message for the person who hit him.

"I was lying down there in a puddle of blood," Scott Hallman said. "I know if would've hit somebody I would've been right there trying to help them."

But, today, Scott Hallman is lying in a hospital bed, suffering from serious injuries wondering why the person driving the car that hit him Sunday night just kept going.

"It was like a flash, and the next thing i know i was on the pavement," he remebers.

Cycling is a huge part of Hallman's life. It has been for 30 years. He rides with a bike club and even works at the Rock Hill Bike Shop, where they sell the one thing he says allowed him to be here talking to us today.

"All the styroform (in my helmet) shattered. It did its job. I attribute a lot to the techonology of helmets. It saved my life," he says.

Hallman says a photo of his bike, which did not survive the crash, upset him almost as much as his fractured back and head injuries. According to him, Rock Hill is a great place to ride. He just wishes drivers would pay attention. And, although he'll have to wear the brace for at least six weeks. he's already planning his return to cycling.

"I'm going to try to get back on in a week or so. We'll see."

Troopers do have a pretty good description of the vehicle, but they need your help to find it. witnesses say the car that hit Hallman was a small silver or gray, two-door car with damage to its right side. Part of the the headlight is missing. The car also may have a red tag on the front.

Hallman is just one of many cyclists injured on South Carolina roadways every year and, sadly, some do not live to talk about the dangers.

It's been nearly two years since Lee Ann Barry and Tom Hoskins were killed along Highway 521 during a cross country charity bike ride.

Authorities say that Sharon Snipes King was driving the SUV that hit them. Today, two ghost bikes sit in the spot they were killed on Highway 521.

CN2 called the 6th Circuit Solicitors office this afternoon and they say no trial date has been set yet. In July 2008, the Hoskins family filed a wrongful death suit against Snipes-King, but at this time, no decision has been made about that case.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• cn2
• cn2 news
• scott hallman
• injured cyclist
• rock hill bike club

[EvendimataE]

how i wish road bike helmets are full face too..i fell cheek first but lucky enough not as bad

[HoskinsTheGreat]

Happy birthday dad.

[Kamikuru77]

Oh my god... I hope the car was ok! :(

[deathtoaccounts]

Was the driver ever caught?

[Slyth66]

So sad :( Glad he is doing ok though.